The World Indoor Soccer League (WISL) was a United States-based

indoor soccer Indoor soccer or arena soccer (known internationally as indoor football, fast football, or showball) is five-a-side version of minifootball, derived from association football and adapted to be played in walled hardcourt indoor arena. Indoor socc ...

league League or The League may refer to: Arts and entertainment * ''Leagues'' (band), an American rock band * ''The League'', an American sitcom broadcast on FX and FXX about fantasy football Sports * Sports league * Rugby league, full contact footba ...

that existed from 1998 to 2001 and consisted of nine teams.

History

After the demise of the

Continental Indoor Soccer League The Continental Indoor Soccer League (CISL) was a professional indoor soccer league that played from 1993 to 1997. History In the summer of 1989 Dr Jerry Buss, the owner of the Los Angeles Lakers and California Sports, told his executive Vice Pre ...

, four of its teams decided to create a new indoor league to be called the Premier Soccer Alliance. The teams complemented their schedules with games against international teams. In 1999, two more former CISL teams (the

Houston Hotshots The Houston Hotshots are a professional indoor soccer team in Houston, Texas. They play in the Premier Arena Soccer League (PASL) From 1994 to 1997 and 2000–2001, the Houston Hotshots were a full professional indoor soccer team in Houston ...

and Monterrey La Raza) joined the league, which then changed its name to World Indoor Soccer League. The name change came about as a result of the "merger" of the US-based Premier Soccer Alliance and an 'English Indoor Football League'. Originally, there was to be a European Division and a North American Division, with 'London United', 'Manchester Magic', 'Newcastle Geordies' and 'Sheffield Strikers' playing in a European division, but that idea was dropped due to rules conflicts between the existing leagues and lack of permission from

The Football Association The Football Association (also known as The FA) is the Sports governing body, governing body of association football in England and the Crown Dependencies of Jersey, Bailiwick of Guernsey, Guernsey and the Isle of Man. Formed in 1863, it is the ...

. At one point in 2000, the World Indoor Soccer League attempted to be the first U.S. pro sports league to sell the sell naming rights of the league. It was looking to be something like "The Pepsi World Indoor Soccer League." Ultimately, this did not happen. The WISL folded in December 2001 when Dallas, St. Louis, and San Diego agreed to join the

MISL The Misls (derived from an Arabic word wikt:مثل#Etymology_3, مِثْل meaning 'equal') were the twelve sovereign states of the Sikh Confederacy, which rose during the 18th century in the Punjab region in the northern part of the Indian ...

while the remaining teams, the Utah Freezz, the Sacramento Knights and the Houston Hotshots folded.

Champions

Season by Season

By Team

Annual awards

Most Valuable Player

* 1998 – Tatu, Dallas * 1999 –

David Doyle David (; , "beloved one") (traditional spelling), , ''Dāwūd''; grc-koi, Δαυΐδ, Dauíd; la, Davidus, David; gez , ዳዊት, ''Dawit''; xcl, Դաւիթ, ''Dawitʿ''; cu, Давíдъ, ''Davidŭ''; possibly meaning "beloved one". w ...

, Dallas * 2000 – Mariano Bollella, Monterrey * 2001 – Ato Leone, Sacramento

Goalkeeper of the Year

*1998 – Dan Madsen, Sacramento *1999 – Brett Phillips, Portland *2000 – Sagu (Edilson Xavier), Dallas *2001 – Sagu (Edilson Xavier), Dallas

Coach of the Year

* 1998 – Tatu, Dallas * 1999 – Iain Fraser, Sacramento * 2000 –

Jeff Betts Jeff Betts (born March 8, 1970 in Charles City, Iowa) is an American former soccer forward and coach who spent most of his career playing indoor soccer. He was a three time All Star and the 2000 World Indoor Soccer League Coach of the Year. C ...

, Utah * 2001 – Iain Fraser, Sacramento

Rookie of the Year

* 1998 – Jorge Fernandez, Sacramento * 1999 – Justin Labrum, Utah * 2000 – Clint Regier, Houston * 2001 – David Beltran, San Diego

Defender of the Year

* 1998 – Rusty Troy, Dallas * 1999 – Iain Fraser, Sacramento * 2000 – Rob Baarts, Utah * 2001 – Iain Fraser, Sacramento

Presidents

Gordon Jago Gordon Harold Jago (born 22 October 1932) is an English former football player and manager, and the former director of the Dr. Pepper Dallas Cup international youth tournament. Playing career Born in Poplar, London, Jago began his profession ...

1998–2001

Teams

References

{{USDefunctSoccer Organizations disestablished in 2001 Defunct indoor soccer leagues in the United States 1998 in American soccer leagues 1999 in American soccer leagues 2000 in American soccer leagues 2001 in American soccer leagues